Ice maker with a heater and an ice tray made of heat-conductive plastic, and household cooling appliance

ABSTRACT

An ice maker for a household cooling appliance includes an ice tray with cavities for ice form elements, a heater for heating the ice tray so as to enable incipient melting of the ice form elements in the cavities. The ice tray is made of a heat-conductive plastic. There is also described a household cooling appliance.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to an ice maker for a household cooling appliance. The ice maker comprises an ice tray with cavities for ice form elements. The invention further relates to a household cooling appliance with an ice maker.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Household cooling appliances configured for storing and preserving food can also comprise an ice maker. By an ice maker ice form elements can be produced from liquid in the device itself. For this purpose, an ice maker usually comprises an ice tray which comprises cavities into which the liquid can be inserted. The liquid is then frozen so that the ice form elements are generated therefrom.

For removing the ice form elements from the ice tray, different concepts are envisaged. Thus, in one embodiment it can be provided that the ice tray can be inherently twisted such that the ice form elements in the cavities can be loosened. In an embodiment different therefrom it can be provided that the ice tray can be definably heated such that the generated ice form elements can be subjected to slight melting and thus easily removed from the cavities.

In this context, it is known that ice trays are made of metal, in particular die-cast aluminum. Such ice trays are rather heavy. Besides, they are disadvantageous as regards their heat capacity. Specifically with embodiments of ice makers which are configured for incipient melting of ice form elements in the ice tray, these embodiments of the ice tray which are made of metal enable only limited contact between a heating device and the ice tray. Thus, apart from a design requiring considerable packaging space, the heat supply to specific areas of the ice tray is inadequate, which adversely affects the thawing or melting of the ice form elements. The resulting melting may be too strong or conversely, in places, insufficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to provide an ice maker in which the loosening of the ice form elements in the ice tray is improved. It is a preferred object to provide an ice maker in which the melting or thawing of the ice form elements for the purpose of their removal from the ice tray is improved. It is a further object to provide a household cooling appliance with such an ice maker.

The above objects are solved by an ice maker and a household cooling appliance according to the independent claims.

A first aspect of the invention relates to an ice maker for a household cooling appliance. The ice maker comprises at least one ice tray. The ice tray comprises cavities in which ice form elements can be generated. The ice maker comprises a heater for heating the ice tray so as to enable incipient melting of the ice form elements in the cavities in order to facilitate removing the generated ice form elements from the ice tray. The ice tray is made of heat-conductive plastic.

A further aspect of the invention relates to a household cooling appliance with an ice maker. The ice maker comprises an ice tray with cavities for ice form elements. The ice maker moreover comprises a heater for heating the ice tray to enable incipient melting of the ice form elements in the cavities. The ice tray is made of heat-conductive plastic.

Further features of the invention are apparent from the claims, the figures and the description of figures. The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination but also in other combinations, without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures and explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations. Implementations and feature combinations are also to be considered as disclosed, which thus do not comprise all of the features of an originally formulated independent claim. Moreover, implementations and feature combinations are to be considered as disclosed, in particular by the implementations set out above, which extend beyond or deviate from the feature combinations set out in the back-references of the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the invention are explained in the following in more detail on the basis of schematic drawings. These show in:

FIG. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a household cooling appliance according to the invention;

FIG. 2 a perspective view of an embodiment of an ice maker according to the invention;

FIG. 3 a top view of the ice maker according to FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 a view of the ice maker according to FIG. 3 from below;

FIG. 5 a perspective view of partial components of a further embodiment of an ice maker in a first perspective representation; and

FIG. 6 the representation of the components of the ice maker according to FIG. 5 in a perspective different from FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the figures identical or functionally identical elements are equipped with the same reference signs.

With indications “top”, “bottom”, “front”, “back”, “horizontal”, “vertical”, “depth direction”, “width direction”, “height direction” etc. the positions and orientations given in the case of intended use and intended arrangement of the ice maker or the device are indicated.

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view an embodiment of a household cooling appliance 1. The household cooling appliance 1 is configured for storing and preserving food. In the illustrated embodiment, the household cooling appliance 1 is a fridge freezer. However, it can also solely be a refrigerator.

The illustrated household cooling appliance 1 comprises an outer housing 2. In the outer housing 2 a first receiving space for food is formed which is presently a refrigerator compartment 3. The household cooling appliance 1 in addition comprises a second receiving space for food which is separate from the first receiving space and which is presently a freezer compartment 4. As can be seen, in the presently shown embodiment the refrigerator compartment 3 and the freezer compartment 4 are arranged one above the other in the height direction (y direction) of the household cooling appliance 1. The freezer compartment 4, positioned further down, can be closed by a door 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the door 5 is a front wall of a drawer which can be moved linearly in the depth direction (z direction) of the household cooling appliance 1. The refrigerator compartment 3 is closable at the front by two separate doors 6 and 7, which in FIG. 1 are shown in the open position. The two separate doors 6 and 7 are pivotably arranged at the outer housing 2 via vertically oriented pivoting axes. In the width direction (x direction) the two doors 6 and 7 are arranged side by side and in the closed position extend in a frontside plane. Specifically, in the closed position the door 5 also extends in the plane in which in the closed position the two doors 6 and 7 extend.

The household cooling appliance 1 moreover comprises a dispenser unit 10 which is configured for dispensing ice form elements or broken ice. The dispenser unit 10 can also optionally be configured for dispensing a beverage. The dispenser unit 10 comprises an ice maker 8 or ice maker unit. In the illustrated embodiment, the ice maker 8 is arranged inside the refrigerator compartment 3. This means that while the ice maker 8 is arranged and formed to be thermally insulated against the refrigerator compartment 3, it is accessible and reachable only via the charging opening of the refrigerator compartment 3. Thus, the ice maker 8 is accessible only if at least the door 6 is open.

In addition to the ice maker 8, the dispenser unit 10 also comprises an output unit 9. The output unit 9 is presently for example integrated into the door 6. On an outer side of the door 6 which faces away from the refrigerator compartment 3 and which is thus a front side, a recess is formed into which a receptacle can be inserted, into which the ice form elements or the broken ice can then be transmitted via the output unit 9.

In the closed state of the door 6 the output unit 9 is coupled with the ice maker 8 such that via an ice chute 11, which is presently formed in the output unit 9, ice form elements or broken ice can be transmitted from the ice maker 8 to the output unit 9.

As regards the number and position of the doors, the household appliance 1 can be diversely designed. This applies analogously to the number and position of the receiving spaces.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of an embodiment of an ice maker 8. The ice maker 8 comprises an ice tray 12. In the ice tray 12 a plurality of cavities 13 are formed which are configured to receive liquid. The cavities 13 are presently upwardly open indentations or recesses by which the form of the ice form elements to be generated from the inserted liquid is defined.

Preferably, the ice maker 8 also comprises a motor 14 by which an expulsion unit 15 is drivable. The expulsion unit 15 comprises a bar 16 on which protruding blade-like expulsion lugs 17 are arranged. The expulsion lugs 17, of which for a better overview only a few are provided with reference numbers, can dive into the cavities 13 in order to push out the ice form elements formed therein. By the motor 14 the bar 16 is set in rotary motion such that the expulsion lugs 17 also rotate and thus dive into the cavities 13 and push out the ice form elements.

The ice maker 8 in addition comprises a feeding pipe 18 via which liquid can be guided to the ice tray 12. The liquid then flows into the cavities 13 to be frozen therein.

Preferably, a valve 19 is arranged in the feeding pipe 18.

In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the ice maker 8 comprises a heater 20. In the presently illustrated embodiment the heater 20 comprises a U-shaped pipe coil or heating coil 21. In the illustrated embodiment, the heating coil 21 is arranged underneath the cavities 13.

In the illustrated embodiment, the ice tray 12 is made of heat-conductive plastic. This plastic can, for example, be duroplastic or thermoplastic.

In an advantageous embodiment, heat-conductive particles are added to the heat-conductive plastic. Preferably, the heat-conductive particles comprise soot. It can also be provided that the heat-conductive particles comprise ceramic particles or other plastic particles.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment it is provided that the heater 20, in particular the U-shaped pipe coil, is overmolded with a heat-conductive plastic 22. Preferably, the heat-conductive plastic 22 is identical to the heat-conductive plastic 23 of which the ice tray 12 is formed. In an advantageous embodiment it is provided that the heat-conductive plastics 22 and 23 form a single-piece component. It can be provided that in particular in a single-piece design the heat-conductive plastics 22 and 23 are the same heat-conductive plastic material. However, a two-component injection molding design can also be envisaged.

In such an embodiment, the overmold of the heating coil 21 formed by the heat-conductive plastic 22 is thus directly connected with the heat-conductive plastic 23 of the ice tray 12.

FIG. 3 shows the ice maker 8 from above such that it is possible to look into the cavities 13. In this embodiment, the ice tray 12 is formed in one piece of a heat-conductive plastic and thus, specifically, the heating coil 21 is completely integrated into this heat-conductive plastic material and thus completely embedded therein.

FIG. 4 shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 from the opposite side and thus from below. It can be seen that the heating coil 21 is completely embedded in the plastic material 23 and thus invisible also from the underside.

Preferably, the plastic material 23 is void-free particularly in the area between the heating coil 21 and the cavities 13. This enables particularly advantageous heat transfer from the heating coil 21 to the cavities 13. Thus, particularly homogenous and uniform heating of all cavities 13 is enabled. Thus, particularly uniform and dosed slight melting of the ice form elements in the cavities 13 is enabled, in particular enabled simultaneously.

It is preferably provided that specifically in the intermediate space 24 between the heating coil 21 and the cavities 13 heat-conductive particles are added to the heat-conductive plastic. In particular, the quantity and type of the heat-conductive particles in this intermediate space 24 are pre-specified in a defined manner. This enables particularly individual heat transfer from the heating coil 21 to the cavities 13.

In FIG. 5 the ice maker 8 is shown in a further embodiment in a perspective view of an underside. Presently, only partial components are shown. In this embodiment it is provided that a refrigerant pipe 25 of a cooling circuit is also formed underneath the cavities 13. In this refrigerant pipe 25 a refrigerant can circulate to enable the freezing of the liquid in the cavities 13. Thus, in such an embodiment the ice maker 8 is thermally advantageously coupled to a cooling circuit. The cooling circuit can in particular be a compressor-based cooling circuit.

Besides, further options are provided to enable the freezing of the liquid in the cavities 13 such that the ice form elements are generated. If an embodiment is provided in which the freezing and thus the thermal coupling of the ice tray 12 to such a cooling circuit with the refrigerant pipe 25 is provided, it is envisaged in a further advantageous embodiment that the refrigerant pipe 25 is likewise overmolded with heat-conductive plastic. This overmold is not shown in FIG. 5 in order to demonstrate the positional arrangement and extension of the refrigerant pipe 25. There is only shown a symbolic reference sign 26 which is intended to symbolize the heat-conductive plastic of the overmold of the refrigerant pipe 25. It can presently also be envisaged that the refrigerant pipe is overmolded with the same plastic with which the heater 20 and thus the heating coil 21 are overmolded. Similarly, in a further embodiment it can be provided that the heat-conductive plastic of which the ice tray 12 is formed is the same heat-conductive plastic of which the overmold of the refrigerant pipe 25 is formed.

In a further advantageous embodiment it can be provided that the refrigerant pipe 25 at least partially comprises cooling fins 27, which in FIG. 5 are to be understood and represented merely symbolically. The number and position and orientation towards each other of the cooling fins 27 according to FIG. 5 is intended to be merely symbolic. By such cooling fins 27 thermal coupling to the cavities 13 is again improved, specifically if overmolding of the cooling fins 27 is likewise envisaged.

It can presently also be provided that the ice tray 12, formed of the heat-conductive plastic 23, and the overmold of the heating coil 21 and the overmold of the refrigerant pipe 25 form a single piece-component.

FIG. 6 shows the representation of the component of FIG. 5 in a different perspective, specifically in top view such that it is possible to look into the cavities 13.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, as well as FIG. 2, show a housing 28 which comprises the above-mentioned motor 14.

In a further advantageous embodiment it can be provided that at least the cavities 13 are provided with a food safe additional layer 29, as shown in FIG. 3.

The cooling fins 27 can, for example, be made of metal, in particular aluminum. By such cooling fins 27 improved and more even distribution of the released cooling energy is enabled.

Instead of the heating coil 21 the heater 20 can also comprise a focused and local concentration increase of heat-conductive particles, for example soot. This also enables a targeted transfer of the desired coupled-in heat energy to the cavities 13. In such an embodiment the heating coil 21 can be omitted.

For example, in such an embodiment the concentration of heat-conductive particles such as soot and/or ceramic particles and/or other plastic particles can be locally formed such that a geometrical structure is formed which corresponds to the heating coil 21.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   1 household cooling appliance     -   2 outer housing     -   3 refrigerator compartment     -   4 freezer compartment     -   5 door     -   6 door     -   7 door     -   8 ice maker     -   9 output unit     -   10 dispenser unit     -   11 ice chute     -   12 ice tray     -   13 cavities     -   14 motor     -   15 expulsion unit     -   16 bar     -   17 expulsion lug     -   18 feeding pipe     -   19 valve     -   20 heater     -   21 heating coil     -   22 heat-conductive plastic     -   23 heat-conductive plastic     -   24 intermediate space     -   25 refrigerant pipe     -   26 overmold     -   27 cooling fins     -   28 housing     -   29 additional layer 

1: Ice maker for a household cooling appliance, comprising an ice tray with cavities for ice form elements, a heater for heating the ice tray so as to enable incipient melting of the ice form elements in the cavities, the heater including an overmold made of a heat-conductive plastic, the ice tray is made of a heat-conductive plastic, the overmold being directly connected with the heat-conductive plastic of the ice tray, the ice tray and the overmold of the heater being formed in one piece.
 2. Ice maker according to claim 1, wherein the heat-conductive plastic is duroplastic or thermoplastic.
 3. Ice maker according to claim 1, wherein heat-conductive particles are added to the heat-conductive plastic.
 4. Ice maker according to claim 3, wherein the heat-conductive particles comprise soot and/or ceramic. 5-7. (canceled)
 8. Ice maker according to claim 1, comprising a refrigerant pipe for cooling the ice tray.
 9. Ice maker according to claim 8, wherein the refrigerant pipe comprises an overmold made of a heat-conductive plastic. 10: Ice maker for a household cooling appliance, comprising an ice tray with cavities for ice form elements, a heater for heating the ice tray so as to enable incipient melting of the ice form elements in the cavities, wherein the ice tray is made of a heat-conductive plastic; a refrigerant pipe for cooling the ice tray, the refrigerant pipe including an overmold made of a heat-conductive plastic, the ice tray and the overmold of the refrigerant pipe being formed in one piece.
 11. Ice maker according to claim 8, wherein the refrigerant pipe comprises cooling fins.
 12. Ice maker according to claim 1, wherein at least the cavities are provided with a food safe additional layer.
 13. Household cooling appliance with an ice maker comprising an ice tray with cavities for ice form elements, a heater for heating the ice tray so as to enable incipient melting of the ice form elements in the cavities, the heater including an overmold made of a heat-conductive plastic, the ice tray is made of a heat-conductive plastic, the overmold being directly connected with the heat-conductive plastic of the ice tray, the ice tray and the overmold of the heater being formed in one piece. 